An Allegheny County man will go to trial for drugs found in a strip search his defense attorney deemed questionable at a preliminary hearing Monday in Butler.

Held in Butler Count Prison in lieu of $250,000 bond, R.C. Wright Jr., 34, of Duquesne, appeared before District Judge William Fullerton, who moved forward all charges against him tied to alleged drugs found during an April 12 traffic stop.

Those charges include two felony counts of drug sales and misdemeanor counts of tampering with evidence, resisting arrest and escape. Assistant District Attorney Ben Simon added the escape charge Monday based on further evaluation of the case.

“I’m wondering if the Fourth Amendment applies in Butler County,” said Jeffrey Weinberg, serving as Wright’s defense attorney. “You have to have some probable cause.” The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.

Testimony at Monday’s hearing was supplied by Detective Ryan Doctor, a city police officer who also works on the Butler County Drug Task Force.

Doctor said he and other task force members were monitoring a suspicious vehicle that had made multiple trips between Pittsburgh and Butler over a period of a few days. He said the vehicle often would drop off Wright at a Virginia Avenue home known for drug activity.

“Commonly after Mr. Wright’s visits, there would be high foot traffic to this residence,” said Doctor.

Doctor said on April 12, he spotted the vehicle as it traveled toward Butler on Route 8 at a high rate of speed despite poor weather conditions. Doctor said he followed the vehicle until it would be safe to conduct a traffic stop, throughout which he spotted multiple traffic violations.

When the vehicle was pulled over, Wright was in the front passenger seat. Doctor said both Wright and the driver were known to the task force for past drug activity.

A drug-sniffing dog alerted officers to drugs in the car, and the pair was taken in separate cruisers to the city police station. Doctor said the driver was taken in first, and when officers returned to get Wright, he was free of his handcuffs in the back seat.

“His entire demeanor changed,” Doctor said. “It was my fear he had possibly ingested something or taken something in the back of my car.”

Doctor said Wright was brought inside, a strip search was conducted and a brick of suspected heroin or fentanyl fell to the ground. Doctor said Wright lunged to conceal the package and resisted officers.

“He was able to stand up and almost make it to the door, when two more officers arrived, and we were able to get him under control,” Doctor said.

During cross-examination, Weinberg asked Doctor a series of questions leading to Wright’s detention. Doctor said he did not see Wright commit any criminal offense, but he was detained based on the K-9’s indication that drugs were in the vehicle.

“It’s a bad search, judge,” Weinberg said to Fullerton.

Fullerton said those topics are for a jury to decide. “As you know that’s not under this court’s jurisdiction,” Fullerton said.

Weinberg also argued for Wright’s bond to be reduced.

“The bail is onerous,” he said. “$250,000 is out there.”

Simon said Wright lives outside the county and has resisted and tried to flee from police. He said Wright also has an extensive history of drug convictions, including felonies.

“His history is 16 years in the making,” Simon said.

Wright is scheduled to appear next for formal arraignment June 28 in Butler County Common Pleas Court.